The reform, approved this Friday by the conservative majority in the Greek Parliament, opens up the possibility for companies to designate a sixth working day, potentially on Saturdays or Sundays, and to adjust employee schedules with only 24 hours notice to align with production needs. This change marks a significant shift in how the labor market can respond to fluctuating demand, and it is framed by supporters as a measure to boost efficiency while offering workers flexibility in how their hours are arranged.
According to law 158, the tally reached 158 votes in favour from the total of 300 members present after the most recent election, with the conservative New Democracy party leading the charge. The prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has defended the policy against criticism from opposition parties that ranged from the far right to the radical left, all of whom criticized the reform as incongruent with established worker protections. The parliamentary outcome reflects a clear partisan divide, with backing from the governing bloc and opposition voices aligned against the measure. [citation: Greek Parliament, 2024]
The reform also paves the way for workers to undertake a voluntary second job, up to five hours per day, thereby permitting an increase in total daily commitments from the standard eight hours to a potential thirteen hours per day when combined with primary duties. This expansion is presented as a practical option for those seeking additional income or more varied work experiences, provided all regulatory conditions are respected. [citation: Labour Department briefing]
Moreover, the legislation provides that businesses in several sectors may shift to a sixth working day regime, under which employees would receive an additional 40 percent on their daily rate as compensation for the extra day. This provision is designed to compensate for the extended hours while recognizing the additional workload placed on workers who participate in such arrangements. [citation: Government summary]
In addition, the reforms touch on contracts commonly described as “call workers.” In practice, these arrangements would not have fixed schedules; instead, workers would be deployed as needed by their employer, with the stipulation that notice must be provided at least 24 hours in advance. The policy aims to introduce a predictable notification framework while preserving employer flexibility in staffing. [citation: Ministry of Labor briefing]
Yesterday, Thursday, protests erupted across Greece as thousands took to the streets to oppose the new law, while a nationwide 24-hour strike demonstrated broad discontent. Trade unions from multiple sectors joined the Civil Servants Union in expressing their opposition, highlighting concerns about potential erosion of established rights and protections. [citation: Greek unions statement]
Protest organizers and many workers argue that the reform could erode the hard-won right to a five-day, eight-hour workweek that has long served as a cornerstone of the Greek labor system. They warn that the changes could gradually chip away at traditional wage protections and working conditions, even as some supporters claim the measure will remove irregularities and modernize scheduling. [citation: workers coalition]
The reform also modifies the administrative regime by allowing companies that adopt a digital time-tracking system to monitor workdays and changes in hours without the previous mandatory upfront registration on a government electronic platform. The government contends that this shift reduces bureaucratic overhead for businesses since many organizations already record hours in their internal systems. [citation: digital governance briefing]
Proponents insist that the state’s role in monitoring labor practices is still essential and that the absence of direct government oversight could invite manipulation of scheduling and the exclusion of overtime pay. Critics emphasize that stronger enforcement and robust inspection regimes are necessary to prevent abuse and ensure compliance across industries, particularly in a market already strained by staffing shortages in labor inspections. [citation: regulatory analysis]
Speaking to the Parliament ahead of the vote, the Minister of Labor, Adonis Georgiadis, argued in defence of the bill that it does not eliminate either the eight-hour day or the five-day week, but rather offers greater flexibility within the existing framework. He asserted that the new provisions address irregular scheduling and aim to curb undeclared overtime by making schedules more predictable and transparent for workers. [citation: parliamentary speech]
One official remark described the labour market as a complex landscape where flexibility is necessary to reduce guesswork and exploitation. The minister underscored that the reform is intended to correct irregularities and enable scheduling that more accurately mirrors real production needs, while still protecting workers through clear notification and fair compensation. [citation: ministerial remarks]
Additionally, the law requires that all individual contracts between employers and employees be published in a single digital document on the government’s platform, and it will enable electronic signing for the first time. This move is meant to bring greater transparency to employment terms and to streamline contract management for both sides. [citation: digital platform policy]
This regulatory approach is not new for Greece; it follows a pattern seen under the current government of implementing changes to job arrangements that have historically sparked social debate. In 2021, the preceding government introduced a measure to remove the maximum cap on working hours beyond the standard eight hours per day, even as a 40-hour workweek remained the norm. The reform, backed by the governing party’s then-absolute majority, also extended annual overtime allowances from a maximum of 120 hours to a possible 150 hours. [citation: legislative history]